Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Correlation Between Habitat Quality and Habitat Fragmentation in the West Qinling Mountains, China

In recent decades, with the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the contradiction between resource development and environmental protection has become more and more prominent. Scientific simulation of the spatial and temporal correlation between habitat quality (HQ) and habitat fragmentation at a suitable scale is of great significance for maintaining the stability of regional ecosystems and achieving high-quality development. This study took the West Qinling Mountains as an example, where, firstly, the appropriate grid scale was determined based on the spatial stability of HQ, and the evolution characteristics of HQ were analyzed from 2000 to 2020 based on the InVEST model and GeoDa software. Secondly, the habitat fragmentation process was simulated from three characteristic dimensions of habitat area, habitat shape, and habitat distribution. Finally, the GWR model was used to explore the correlation mechanism between habitat fragmentation and HQ. The results showed the following: (1) The 3 km grid scale was a suitable scale for HQ evaluation and analysis in the West Qinling Mountains, and the scale effect was consistent across years. (2) The degree of HQ was at a higher level, where, from 2000 to 2020, it showed a decreasing trend, with a clear phenomenon of bipolar sharpening. The spatial distribution showed a pattern of “high in the west and low in the east, low in the north and high in the south”, and exhibited obvious spatial double clustering characteristics. (3) The degree of habitat fragmentation was at a medium level, where, from 2000 to 2020, it showed a increasing trend, with a clear bipolar contraction state. The spatial distribution showed a pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, high in the north and low in the south”, and the overall spatial distribution was retained with the change in time scale. (4) The effects of habitat fragmentation on HQ showed significant spatial and temporal non-stationary with a non-linear negative correlation. From 2000 to 2020, the degree of negative effect gradually increased, and the staggered distribution of forest, unused land, and water might offset the negative impact of unused land on HQ. The results could provide scientific evidence for the optimization of ecological patterns and ecological prevention and control in the West Qinling Mountains.